Closure of the Collections Council of Australia
zoharesque
Alice
If you wish to pursue this issue further you can
· Write to the Co-Chairs of Cultural Ministers Council (CMC)
· Write to your state or territory representative on CMC (contact details for all members of CMC, including the Co-Chairs, are available HERE)
· Write to your Federal representative (contact details available HERE)
· Write to your state/ territory representatives (contact details available here: ACT; NSW; NT; Qld; SA; Tas; Vic; and WA)
Some points that you might make include:
· It is disappointing that CMC has decided to cease funding this valued and effective organisation, and its closure will be a great loss to the international collections community and to Australian cultural life.
· It is particularly disappointing that the decision was made without any formal review of the CCA’s operations.
· The CCA has done much valuable work for collections in both staffed and volunteer-run collecting organisations, in the cities and in the regions, including [insert your example here].
· CCA initiatives have already improved the care and use of Australia’s Distributed National Collection, via [insert your example here].
· This decision denies Australia a peak body for the collections sector, a move that places us out of step with international trends, as similar bodies continue to be better resourced in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, Norway and Chile.
· The CCA occupies a special place in the Australian cultural landscape. External to individual collecting organisations, the CCA has been able to work cooperatively and strategically to develop initiatives and resources that address the shared needs of archives, galleries, libraries, museums and other collecting organisations.
· I urge members of CMC and other decision-makers to remember the value of Australia’s collections, and recognise the need for strategic, coordinated action and funding, to ensure that the Distributed National Collection is managed intelligently for our digital future. Cultural, heritage, research, innovation and scientific policy decisions must include the nation’s collections, if they are to realise their potential.
· I understand that there will be a Working Group examining CMC’s support for the collections sector in the future.
o I would be happy to contribute ideas to this Working Group.
o I would like to be informed about the progress and outcomes of this investigation.
It is helpful for us to know what action has been taken, so please copy the CCA into any emails, letters or faxes that you send.
Contact details for the Collections Council of Australia Ltd are: ad...@collectionscouncil.com.au or PO Box 263, Rundle Mall, SA, 5000, Australia.
Thank you for your support at this time,
The Board and Secretariat of the Collections Council of Australia Ltd.
Margaret Birtley
Collections Council of Australia Ltd
Further details about the CCA and the recent decision:
Cultural Ministers Council has advised that it will cease its funding of the Collections Council.
Following its meeting on 9 October 2009, the Cultural Ministers Council has verbally advised the Collections Council of Australia (CCA) that it will:
* cease funding the CCA
* provide funding to the CCA for a ‘transitional’ period (the details of which are subject to further discussion)
* establish a working group that would consider any future approach to matters relating to the collections sector
Established by the Cultural Ministers Council in 2004, the CCA has worked to bring the collections sector – archives, galleries, libraries and museums – together and to provide advice to Ministers on the long term sustainability of, and issues facing, the sector. Last month, the CCA released plans to develop and promote a new model for sustainable scientific and cultural collections in Australia.
The CCA’s operations over four and half years with its four person staff have been supported by the Cultural Ministers Council and the Australian Government with grants totalling $2.1 million.
Further information:
Click HERE http://www.collectionscouncil.com.au/Default.aspx?tabid=65&DMXModule=543&EntryId=2106&Command=Core_Download
to read the CCA’s Media Release about the Cultural Ministers Council’s decision. The Media Release incorporates:
· The Cultural Ministers Council’s terms of reference for the CCA
· The CCA’s proposal for a new Model for sustainable collections
Click HERE http://www.collectionscouncil.com.au/Portals/0/CCA%20achievements%20and%20projects_8%20October%202009.pdf
to read about the Collections Council’s achievements, 2005-2009.
Collections Council of Australia Ltd
PO Box 263
Rundle Mall SA 5000
AUSTRALIA
Tel: + 61 (0)8 8207 7272
Fax: + 61 (0)8 8207 7207
Email: c...@collectionscouncil.com.au
Website: www.collectionscouncil.com.au
_______________________________________________
Dr Alice Gorman
Department of Archaeology
Flinders University
GPO Box 2100 Adelaide 5001
Mobile: 0428 450 418
http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au/archaeology/department/staff/gorman.php
_______________________________________________
Jeannette Hope
could be just me, a result of my bucolic rural isolation. Or maybe they
haven't really been selling themselves enough to convince the pollies to
keep up the funding?
Jeannette Hope
Wentworth
IainS
According to their webiste
"The Collections Council of Australia Ltd is a not-for-profit
organisation, established in late 2004 as a company limited by
guarantee.
The organisation was initiated by the Cultural Ministers Council, and
is supported by the federal, state and territory governments through
the Cultural Ministers Council.
The Collections Council’s charter focuses on the collections sector
throughout Australia, and includes archives, galleries, libraries and
museums. The Council aims to ensure the stability and the
sustainability of the collections sector by playing a leadership role
in:
* developing long term strategies to address issues facing the
collections sector;
* developing a profile for the sector at a national and
international level; and
* implementing initiatives to address cross-sectoral issues.
Primarily this advancement will occur through communication and
consultation with key stakeholders to resolve common issues, to
improve standards and procedures, and to promote the value of the
sector and an understanding of the issues it faces.
The Collections Council believes that the cultural collections of
Australia represent the essence of the past, present and future memory
of the country; they shape our psyche; record our development, provide
insight into our national spirit, and inspire us for the future. The
Council’s vision is for all collections in Australia to be universally
accessible, clearly defined, actively connected to the communities
they represent, recognised for their significance, used
collaboratively by collecting organisations, and managed for
sustainability"
How could you imagine an organisation with this on its website (it is
not exactly clear what they do - I suspect facilitation) not be a
significant part of "Australia's Cultural Landscape" along with gum
trees, the rainforest, dunnies and burnt out cars.
Your are indeed too far outcback to truly understand what a grievous
loss the closure of this institution will be to all Australian tax
payers.
Iain
Jeannette Hope
I am involved with a remarkable small archival collection out here in the
outback (the Wentworth Historical Society) which is universally accessible
(if you send us $15 we'll even do the research for you), clearly defined
(serious professional level archive and digital database management of
documents and photos), actively connected to the communities it represents
(run by community volunteers), recognised for its significance (well, we've
had no word from the Collections Council of Australia), used collaboratively
by collecting organisations (used by real people, Australia wide, also some
overseas), and managed for sustainability (that's the hard part, we'd like
to see some money for long term storage at a local level etc.).
It's amazing what a different view you get of life, the universe and
organisations taking leadership roles, facilitating and developing
strategies, profiles and initiatives, when you are in a very small community
trying to raise a few dollars to save your bit of the Australian Cultural
Landscape. Oh well, another lamington drive.
Cheers
Jeannette
Doug Williams
andy.sheena
Dear ozarch group,
I received the following email from a geologist, Mr John Byrnes who is trying to have some important geological sites protected under state heritage legislation. He is experiencing some frustration in this regard. Can anyone offer him advice.
Regards
Andy Roberts
A.R.C. Heritage Pty Ltd
139 Ocean st, Dudley NSW 2290
======================================================================================
I'm a Sydney geologist who has for many years been interested in natural
history of Lake Macquarie area (and other areas).
I've been making enquiries looking for anyone else interested in
history/heritage (esp. natural history), in general - but finding very
little as a result.
This has been ongoing for years now. I've contacted all Lake Macquarie
Councillors about natural heritage and many others over time.
For example, I've asked about the the Permian insects bed along eastern
edge of northern Lake Macquarie (which is generally regarded as world
famous and is well known to geologists at least), and am looking for anyone
with any interest in heritage in general - either in council or in the
community, and particularly about natural history.
I'm aware that much effort went into getting the Belmont insect bed
recognised as State-significant; and yet I note it cannot be found on the
State heritage listing (viz. via:
http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/07_subnav_04.cfm ).
I've been trying to find out why this is so.
In fact none of the well known fossil sites, such as Fennell Bay which
was probably the first found, are found in the State Heritage database via
the online search facility.
From all who I have contacted so far I've gotten few suggestions and none
have known why the above is so. However it's been suggested recently that
I contact yourselves who might be able to help, plus to contact the
"Aboriginal archaeologist" at State Heritage .. the last-mentioned being
because LMC said their advice on Fennel Bay came from there. However my
informant didn't know the name of who this person at Heritage is .. and
when I enquired to Heritage I could not find out either.
I'm interested in getting more interest afloat in these things. And that
they certainly need to be in some comprehensive listing of NSW heritage, in
my opinion.
Best Regards,
John G. Byrnes
(Geologist, Sydney)
(Geological,archaeological,historical interests)
P.O. Box 121,
BURWOOD, NSW 1805
Email: john...@ozemail.com.au
Jeannette Hope
http://www.gsa.org.au/heritage/index.html
GSA Heritage National Convenor
For more information about geological heritage, please contact:
Dr Susan White
Convenor, Geological Heritage Standing Committee
123 Manningham St
Parkville VIC 3052
Tel: (03) 9328 4154 Fax: (03) 8344 7761
Email: susan...@netspace.net.au
www.vic.gsa.org.au
Policy
Sites and features have both been used in Australia to describe respectively
areas of small or large extent, or aspects of geology and geomorphology such
as a fossil locality, a type section, a landform or other geological
features that may have no particular extent. The term geological monument
has been used for sites and features that have been recognised as
significant. The Society now uses the following definition:
Significant geological features (SGF) are those features of special
scientific or educational value which form the essential basis of geological
education, research and reference. These features are considered by the
geological community to be worthy of protection and preservation.
The GSA's Heritage Policy details these principles further.
Latest News
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In 2006 I contacted Susan when I was doing the heritage study of the
Unincorporated Area of NSW, and discovered that only the Victorian heritage
group was active. I was amazed to discover that no items in the far NW NSW
were on any register for their geological (as opposed to mining)
significance - even though some of the oldest rocks in Australia, certainly
the oldest in NSW, are found here, as well as some neat glacial sites (not
Pleistocene, but the ancient Sturtian and Marinoan glaciations). I didn't
really do this justice in the heritage study, since I had my hands full with
the more recent heritage and anyway felt I didn't have the expertise to
assess geological significance. Of course, there are 'geological' sites
listed on heritage registers mainly because they are in National Parks or
are listed for some other heritage significance etc, eg the Willandra Lakes;
the problem is recognition of places that are purely geological.
There is an old publication of the geological heritage of NSW:
Percival, I.G. 1985 The Geological Heritage of New South Wales. Vol. 1.
Department of Environment and Conservation, NSW.
I'd recommend that John Byrnes contacts Susan White, and maybe gets some
advice on how the committee has been effective in Victoria.
The way to go might be to find some other interested geologists (and others)
in NSW, and set up a NSW working group, maybe under the auspices of the GSA,
look at getting funding to update Percival's work.
Regards
Jeannette Hope
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Eleanor Crosby
in solving the woeful lack of 'Keeping places' or similar archiving
depots. I'm currently (and reluctantly) looking after quite a lot of
material on behalf of a local Traditional Owner group which has no
repository available.
Eleanor Crosby
Gaven, GCCC
Gary Vines
On Nov 9, 9:15 pm, "Jeannette Hope" <riverjunct...@iinet.net.au>
wrote:
>
end that it is a worthy ambition to establish national standards.
Previously I have worked within the very useful frameworks set for
collection management by Museums Australia, Museums Victoria and
different collections working towards accreditation under the Museum
Accreditation Program of MA, and again found this a very worthy
standard-setting approach. However, the fact that there is still no
methodology, criteria or threshold designed for assessing significance
for Aboriginal sites and artefact collection in most states, and that
these are subject to perhaps the strongest and most active regulation,
management and ultimately, in most cases, destruction, it would seem
the collections council efforts are pretty much ignored in terms of
Aboriginal archaeological collections. Perhaps if you ever managed to
get the excavation assemblage accepted into a museum collection it
would be different,but in the mean time, we dig it up, measure and
make a list, and either bury it back in the ground or give it to
someone to stick in their shed, or under the bed.
Gary Vines